A report by Therese Touma from Sydney...
Please find attached some photos from the World Youth Day Stations of the Cross which took place Friday 18 July 2008 in Sydney Australia. The Stations of the Cross was aired on the ABC Channel and internationally on EWTN.
With God's help, I played the role of Mary of Bethany, who was one of the weeping women of Jerusalem following Our Lord closely in the carrying of his cross to Calvary. In Station 8, Mary Magdalene and I assist our Lady to her feet after she was pushed away from Jesus, by the Roman soldiers. In the Crucifixtion scene, on the right of Jesus, I bow down in reverence to Our Lady holding in her arms the lifeless body of her dead son (this scene depicts the Pieta).
It was amazing to be part of such a beautiful and DRAMATIC re-enactment of the passion of Jesus Christ. The three-hour Stations of the Cross was one of the key events of World Youth Day celebrations. We all desired to make the Stations a prayer for all...a point of conversion and grace...so we all worked hard to be authentic and natural in the characters we played. It was demanding at times especially with our intense rehersal schedule but well worth it! We ALSO made great friendships a long the way!! Over 270,000 international and local spectators also made their way to points around the city to watch the Stations of the Cross live and on big screen televisions.The first station held on the steps of St Mary’s Cathedral was attended by Pope Benedict XVI who led the prayer. “Make us generous and insightful as we try to walk in your footsteps,” the Holy Father prayed.
It was amazing to be part of such a beautiful and DRAMATIC re-enactment of the passion of Jesus Christ. The three-hour Stations of the Cross was one of the key events of World Youth Day celebrations. We all desired to make the Stations a prayer for all...a point of conversion and grace...so we all worked hard to be authentic and natural in the characters we played. It was demanding at times especially with our intense rehersal schedule but well worth it! We ALSO made great friendships a long the way!! Over 270,000 international and local spectators also made their way to points around the city to watch the Stations of the Cross live and on big screen televisions.The first station held on the steps of St Mary’s Cathedral was attended by Pope Benedict XVI who led the prayer. “Make us generous and insightful as we try to walk in your footsteps,” the Holy Father prayed.